News
EASA Safety Information Bulletin 2019-07
Important instructions for the rigging of sailplanes
Due to an accident, the EASA has published a Safety Information Bulletin dealing with the correct rigging of sailplanes.
More information: https://ad.easa.europa.eu/ad/2019-07.
You can find the bulletin on our website in the category “Generally TN” as well.
AS 34 Me introduced at the AERO
Electric Powered Self-Launching Standard Class Sailplane
“Self-Launch simply electrically” were the keywords on the large display announcing our newest aircraft type, the AS 34 Me, at the AERO exhibition in Friedrichshafen, Germany. It was surely a big surprise for many visitors who were looking for an easy to fly, fun aircraft with self-launching capability at a reasonable purchase price and with low maintenance costs.
The AS 34 Me does not only have outstanding handling characteristics and very good flying performance. The electrical propulsion system also offers sufficient power to permit everyday powered sailplane operations. In addition to abundant performance for a powerful self-launch (to e.g. 500 m), the electric drive system also retains enough capacity for a further climb to 2,250 m, permitting an additional gliding range of 130 km using the saw-tooth climb/glide method. learn more
AS 33 – in big steps towards the prototype
The engineering team works with a lot of effort to start the series production of the new AS 33. Final structural and fluid dynamic calculations are completed with promising results. learn more
Previous ASK 21s also profit from the B-version
As a result of the new development for the ASK 21 B several of its features can be adopted by the large number of previous ASK 21 sailplanes.
The AS Design Team Introduces Itself
LTR: Joschka Schmeisl, Paul Anklam, Andreas Storch, Ulrich Simon, Tobias Mörsel, Manfred Münch
With the new AS 33 Alexander Schleicher breaks with the decades long tradition of including the designer’s name in a new aircraft’s model designation. This shows even more emphatically that new developments from the Schleicher design division are products of teamwork. At the same time the depth of development expertise within Schleicher is significantly increased through the use of new technologies such as, for example, modern CFD software.
Tom Claffey wins in Australia with his ASG 29
Narromine: 1st Place in 18m and Open class
Last year’s winner and ASG 29 pilot Tom Claffey also won the 57th Australian Multiclass Nationals in the 18m and Open class categories this year and with a significant points margin. Eight competition days were flown and Tom had two day wins.
More information: Soaring Spot
Photo: Gliding Australia
Sergio Andrade has flown the first 1000 km FAI triangle in Brazil with his ASH 30 Mi
The gliding season in the southern hemisphere starts
Sergio Andrade and Itamar Lessa in the ASH 30 Mi
Despite having many good cross country pilots in Brazil, nobody had yet flown a 1000 km FAI triangle. Located in low latitudes, despite having areas with good thermals, days are simply not long enough. Nevertheless, thanks to a detailed preliminary planning, ASH 30 Mi pilot Sergio Andrade was able to carry out this project successfully on November 3, 2018.
ASG 29 and ASH 31 Mi pilots very successful
Many new national champions
Again this year especially the ASG 29 pilots have been able to achieve exceptional competition results. The national championships of various countries around the world particularly stand out in this respect. We send our sincerest congratulations to these pilots for their remarkable successes. learn more
Sebastian Kawa and Christoph Matkowski are World Champions with the ASG 32 Mi!
Previously this year Sebastian Kawa also became World Champion in the FAI 15m racing class with an ASG 29. Rasmus Ørskov won in the Club Class.
World Champions 20m two-seater: Sebastian Kawa and Christoph Matkowski
A long and “hot” competition is over. The 2018 World Championship in Hosin (Czech Republic) demanded a lot from the pilots. The sailplanes were in the air on 12 of the possible 13 competition days and the up to 450 km long tasks were often completed at average speeds of over 130 km/hr. learn more
New: B-Version of the ASK 21
Well proven training two-seater receives a makeover
An extremely robust structure, very pleasant handling characteristics and simple ground handling made the ASK 21, Rudolf Kaisers first GFK design, not only a huge success but also the standard for training two-seaters.
It’s surely a novelty when an aircraft is produced over such a long period of time without any changes and is still in high demand. It is perhaps only explainable by the fact that Rudolf Kaiser put all of his past design experience into the ASK 21 and gave its many advantages priority over performance consideration.
In gliding clubs it is often the most flown type among all others. The ASK 21s possible total lifespan of 18,000 hours is unique among sailplanes and also speaks to its outstanding quality and robustness. learn more